Associate in Science Degree/Certificate Program

Program Description

The purpose of the Individual Studies/Paralegal Jointly Registered Program with Marist College is to prepare students for employment and for transfer into a bachelor’s degree program. Students complete the liberal arts requirements in two semesters at SUNY Ulster and their paralegal requirements in their third and fourth semesters at Marist College. Graduates of this program earn an Associate in Science in Individual Studies from SUNY Ulster and a Paralegal Certificate from Marist. They are qualified to enter the workforce as paralegals while pursuing higher education.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with a minimum of 36 credits in core liberal arts courses and 24 credits in law courses. The Marist Program is accredited by the American Bar Association, with courses offered through a flexible evening or weekend program.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the AS Individual Studies Degree program, a student will be able to

Produce college‐level papers/essays and oral presentations, demonstrate the ability to research a topic and develop cogent, well-supported arguments;

Understand hypothesis development, evaluation of evidence, data collection, and experimentation and apply scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences;

Analyze and develop arguments in their own or others work and use basic research techniques to locate, evaluate, and synthesize information from a variety of sources;

Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least four of the humanities or social science areas of the SUNY General Education requirements;

In addition all graduates will use the 24‐30 credit s of open electives in the Individual Studies component to customize a specialized career or transfer track or to sample various disciplines in order to discover the career or transfer program best suited to their interests and abilities.

Employment Potential

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegal is expected to be among the 20 fastest growing professions in the U.S. economy. In addition to private law firms, corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, banks also hire paralegals. In the public sector, employment opportunities are expected to expand for paralegals in community legal service programs, consumer organizations, courts and other federal, State, and local government agencies.

Requirements for Program Entry

High school diploma or equivalent

Satisfactory placement in Entering Student Assessment

Developmental Assistance Available

For students who do not meet basic reading and math requirements or who have other learning issues, extra assistance is readily available through SUNY Ulster’s Learning Center, The Gary and Janaki Math Center, the Writing Center, the Peer and Friend Tutor Program, and English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors.

General Education - Electives: Chosen from these categories: American History, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Foreign Language, the Arts, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science or Social Sciences

* ENG 101 is a pre/corequisite for all history and 200‐level sociology courses.
** Students who have already fulfilled the SUNY Communications General Education Requirement at another institution have already met this requirement.

Marist College

Paralegal courses taken at Marist College total 24 credits

Minimum Total Credits 60

The minimum number of total credits (SUNY Ulster & Marist College) required for graduation is 60.